Here’s a roundup of recent news and photos around the Old Mission Peninsula. Got news? Send it to me, [email protected]. And if you sent me something and don’t see it here, send it again! I will never NOT post a news item you send me, but I get 50,000 emails and texts a day and things get lost.
Road Construction. If you’ve been to town in the past week, you no doubt know that road construction along the main drag is re-routing us a different way into town. I do yoga every morning at Yen Yoga (located at the Delamar/old Holiday Inn), so I’ve figured out my route to get there — take East Shore Road to Eighth Street, then find my way downtown and backtrack along the parkway to the Delamar. Coming back, it’s one way back to the Blue Goat.
Old Mission Gazette is Reader Supported.
Click Here to Keep the Gazette Going.
Below are a couple of photos of my drive back from the Delamar to the Blue Goat, along with the official road construction map. For more info, check out Beth Milligan’s story in The Ticker and her recent update here.
Also, Nawbin Trading Company has a live construction cam on their YouTube Channel.
Dougherty Job. The Dougherty House Museum in Old Mission needs a self-starting person to join the team for the 2024 summer season. This person will work 32+ hours a week, with volunteer assistance the rest of the week. Training is provided. Responsibilities include providing guided tours, managing docents, light housekeeping, point of sale duties, cash receipts and management, suggesting improvements to operations and more.
Desirable attributes include good communication and public speaking skills, ability to relate to people of all generations, punctuality, familiarity with common word processing, spreadsheet and digitizing software and flexibility. Basic knowledge of American, Anishinabek, and Michigan history is a plus.
The final 2024 schedule is still in the works, but the dates needed will be June through August, 10 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday through Sunday, with some flexibility. Compensation is $18/hour, paid every other week. If interested, send a resume and cover letter to Chris Rieser, [email protected] or call/text (269) 330-0026. Learn more about the museum here.
Bardon’s is for Sale. Four years after the Wessell family bought the iconic ice cream place on the corner of Front and Garfield (in the middle of the pandemic!), they’ve decided to sell. My friend (and former OMP resident) Cindy Anderson of Lake Homes Realty is handling the sale, and you can read more about the details here (asking price is $1.1 million). Of course, the whole community is hoping someone will be able to buy it and keep it going as an ice cream place (no pressure – we realize that’s a lot of ice cream scoops).
Bardon’s was built in 1950, and I’ve been going there since I was a kid growing up in the 1960s (and later took my dog, Jennifer, there for sloppy joes in my first car, a 1974 VW Bug I inherited from my brother Ward). When my mom was in assisted living at Orchard Creek, Tim and I used to sneak her out and go to Bardon’s for ice cream cones. Below is photographic evidence. I miss them both so much.
By the way, the Wessells have said they’re planning to open for the 2024 season. They’re smack in the middle of the Forbidden Zone, so I hope they’ll still be able to open. I’m sure most of us would find a route there!
In related news, another iconic business, Maxbauer’s, has closed down their shop on Union Street and moved all operations to their new location at 425 W. South Airport Road near Costco. And the Cherry Bowl Drive-In in Honor is also for sale.
Shop at Peninsula Market. While all this is going on in town, here’s your reminder that Peninsula Market in Mapleton is a great place to shop right here on the OMP. As Brit Eaton noted on Facebook, “They are stocking up and have already done an amazing job of restocking, rearranging, and modernizing the whole store. Feels like we have a full-service market now.” Couldn’t have said it better myself, Brit!
Pit Spitters Speaker. Speaking of Brit, he’s on the PR team for Peninsula Insights, the group that meets monthly at Peninsula Community Library. He sent out a note that the speaker for their upcoming meeting on Wednesday, March 20, 7 p.m. at the library, is Jacqueline Holm, the new general manager for the Traverse City Pit Spitters baseball team.
The Pit Spitters have been connected to the Old Mission Peninsula since their beginnings. Leslye (Hooper) Wuerfel and her family were the ones who had the idea for a team and got the whole thing started. Her parents were Rex and Deni Hooper on Kroupa Road.
Want to run for Township office? As we all know, this is a big election year. Paula Kelley sent along this note about throwing your hat in the ring for Peninsula Township office: “For anyone wanting to make a positive difference on our Peninsula Township board, please don’t forget that application packets can be picked up at the Clerk’s office and are due back by April 23rd at 4 p.m. The positions for supervisor, clerk and treasurer are all up for re-election this year, as well as the four Trustee positions.
“The clerk and/or deputy clerk will be able to answer any question you may have regarding the application process.” For more info, email Township Clerk Becky Chown, [email protected], or Deputy Clerk Robin Noval, [email protected].
Read more about Peninsula Township elections here. Also, the Township has several positions open, including Planning and Zoning Administrator, clerical assistance in the Planning and Zoning office, part-time clerical assistance in the Clerk’s office, and a recording secretary to take minutes at various board and commission meetings. Check the Township’s home page for more info or email letters of interest to Becky, [email protected].
New Township Baby. At the Township Board meeting last week, Becky Chown announced that our supervisor, Isaiah Wunsch, and his wife, Attia Qureshi, have a brand new baby boy. In the spot where Isaiah usually sits were “It’s a Boy!” balloons. His name is Zavian Joshua Qureshi Wunsch, and he was born on March 8, 2024 weighing 8 lbs., 14 oz., and 21 inches long. Isaiah says everyone is recovering well. Welcome to the Peninsula, Zavian, and big congrats, Wunsch family! I believe Zavian is the 7th generation of Wunsches on the Peninsula.
Also Read…
SUPPORT YOUR INDEPENDENT LOCAL NEWSPAPER: I started Old Mission Gazette in 2015 because I felt a calling to provide the Old Mission Peninsula community with local news. After decades of writing for newspapers and magazines like the New York Times, Los Angeles Times, Family Circle and Ladies' Home Journal, I really just wanted to write about my own community where I grew up on a cherry farm and raised my own family. So I started my own newspaper.
Because Old Mission Gazette is a "Reader Supported Newspaper" -- meaning it exists because of your financial support -- I hope you'll consider tossing a few bucks our way if I mention your event, your business, your organization or your news item, or if you simply love reading about what's happening on the OMP. In a time when local news is becoming a thing of the past, supporting an independent community newspaper is more important now than ever. Thank you so much for your support! -Jane Boursaw, Editor/Publisher, Old Mission Gazette
To keep the Gazette going, click here to make a donation.
Thank you for continuing this newsletter. I lived in Traverse City on Anderson Road and I also lived on Union Street. We lived in the town for a number of years and I have cousins and relatives that live there and I also have my one cousins husband they have a family Farm out there Really appreciate the news. Thank you, Jane.